Three young female prison guards in UK have been jailed for having secret illicit affairs – including romantic relations and sex with inmates at country’s biggest prison.
According to The Sun, prison guard Jennifer Gavan (27), Ayshea Gunn (27), and Emily Watson (26), were jailed recently for sparking relationships with prisoners.
The secret affairs took place at a super prison in Wrexham, North Wales, which houses Category C adult male offenders. Around 500 staff at the prison have now been undergoing training in a bid to tackle corruption at the 2100-capacity jail.
The allegations came under media’s spotlight when Jennifer Gavan was jailed for eight months in December 2022 after smuggling a mobile phone behind bars for prisoner Alex Coxon (25). A court heard she sent photos of herself to the inmate on Snapchat and kissed him during the relationship between April and July 2020.
Jennifer Gavan pleaded guilty to misconduct in public at Mold Crown Court after she accepted $250 to bring in the mobile phone.
The relationship came just one year after fellow officer Ayshea Gunn (27), had a fling with “dangerous” inmate Khuram Razaq (29), a Pakistani-British accused of involvement in terrorist activities.
The criminology and psychology graduate made numerous sexual phone calls to Khuram Razaq while he was serving a 12-year sentence for conspiracy to rob. A search of Gunn’s bedroom revealed snaps of the pair kissing and hugging along with mobile phone pictures taken in his cell.
A court heard Ayshea Gunn also smuggled in a pair of knickers for the prisoner inside her bra. She was jailed for one year at Mold Crown Court in 2019.
Fellow officer Emily Watson (26), was jailed for one year at the same court for performing a sex act on an inmate in his cell.
Emily Watson spent so much time with John McGee at the prison that staff soon became suspicious and launched an investigation. Mold Crown Court heard they had been alone together in his cell on three occasions, when she performed a sex act on him twice and had intercourse once.
Emily Watson, of Huddersfield, was jailed for one year in April 2019.
The Prison Service said the most recent independent inspection into HMP Berwyn found security arrangements were good.
Jail staff are being vetted every 10 years and the service is piloting social media checks for some “higher risk” roles such as prison officers.
Enhanced gate security has also been introduced to help tackle any staff who might attempt to smuggle illicit items behind bars.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “The overwhelming majority of Prison Service staff are hardworking and dedicated and we will not hesitate to punish those who break the rules.
“Over 500 members of staff at HMP Berwyn have undertaken corruption prevention training in the last 18 months and our enhanced security is protecting the prison against attempts to smuggle illicit items inside”.
